2 TYPES OF PERSONS IN THE CEMETERY
In the foreground of this picture we see a stoned over grave. In the background we see a makeshift shelter for the homeless person.
This reminds us that there are at least two varieties of death: Physical death and spiritual death.
Death is separation.
Physical death is the separation of the human soul & spirit from the body.
Spiritual death is the separation of the unconverted person’s dead spirit from any relationship with God.
It is very typical that otherwise very much physically alive persons are at the same time very much spiritually dead!
Ephesians 2:1 & 4-5 –
Which are you? Spiritually dead or spiritually alive?
DO SOMETHING
For months I had been driving by these outdated advertisements, judging them both to be an eyesore and an evidence of someone’s irresponsibility not to take down what they once had put up.
Finally it dawned on me that I should be the answer to my own irritation!
I parked my car, pulled out the signs and drove them away to a trash bin.
Problem solved, BUT I had to get involved and do something.
There are so many practical applications to this truth.
Pieces of trash on the ground to pick up.
Pieces of wrecked cars in the streets to move aside.
Pieces of broken children, who are hungry for adult attention, acceptance, commendation and brotherly love, to glue back together with simple & sincere personal kindnesses.
There is a wonderful & inspiring young boy in Scripture . He looked around and saw that nobody was doing what perhaps many could have done.
He decided to do something.
John 6:8-9 –
Step up. Do something!
PLAN FOR THE TIME AFTER YOU
Part of that once quiet and un-publicized (and some would say morbid) plan is to issue these three postage stamps.
It is not morbid to plan for the time after ourselves.
Even better, it is excellent to have lived in such a way that you have passed on (1) your saving faith in Christ and (2) your love for & commitment to Christ’s Church to your family members & friends who will survive you!
Plus, living daily with intentional kindness, grace, justice, generosity, worship & prayerfulness will leave a God-honoring legacy far more valuable than money and the things which money can buy!
With the Psalmist Moses, let us each pray:
You won’t live forever, on earth at least, plan now for the time after you!
YOU’RE IN GOOD HANDS
“Behold, I have a inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.”
The Lord Jesus used the same “hands” Word Picture in the New Testament.
Jesus said to His believer-followers:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
Believer, you are in good hands!
BAAA!
That’s their chickens’ water bucket over the young one’s head!
Rescue occurred in time.
The Lord calls us His sheep. And He knows that we are ever-prone to wander away from Him into trouble! (Isaiah 53:6)
We are truly very blessed that the Lord Jesus is our Good Shepherd! 24/7. 365/y. (Psalm 23)
He will not see you starve or continue to look foolish.
He’s not only our Good Shepherd; He’s our perfect Shepherd!
Praise Him for His care for you!
IF YOU ONLY KNEW!
Everyone struggles and often persons’ burdens are only seen by the Lord.
Every person who God brings across your path today is struggling in some way.
They probably need kindness.
They probably don’t need judgment.
(Although loving judgment can be kind.
For each of us who love, trust, follow & serve the Lord Jesus, kindness should be our business card!
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
It’s a true joy to do Random Acts of Kindness!
Be joyous! Be kind!
DIY DISASTER
There are times when one’s own bright idea and efforts
And this is not just with hairdressing projects: It’s also with religious projects!
Isaiah 64:6 –
Do -It-Yourself Righteousness cannot win you either forgiveness or salvation. Only Jesus Christ’s righteousness makes anyone “straight” with Holy God.
Titus 3:5 –
As serious as DIY Hairdressing is, DIY Salvation is WORSE … ETERNALLY WORSE.
GET TO THE POINT
But that is not complete evangelism.
If we never get around to simply asking the lost person if he or she would like to transfer their trust to Jesus alone for personal salvation, we have failed to do the job.
Evangelism is telling and asking!
Consider these three examples of this from the Gospel of John:
1. Andrew: “One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him (Jesus), was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘we have found the Messiah’ (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus.”
2. The Samaritan Woman at the Well: “So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city, and said to the men, ‘Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?’ ”
3. Jesus: (Speaking to his disciples just before he went to the Cross) : “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father , but through Me.”
Andrew, the woman at the well and the Lord Jesus Himself all got to the point. They landed the plane.
Is it time for you to land the plane too with that person who you have been trying to win to Christ?
THE PRISON YOU CAN ESCAPE
Fear can be a prison. There are 365 Bible verses which command us not to fear. One verse for each day of the year!
There was a time when the entire army of Israel was in a prison of personal fear.
An intimidating giant dared them to fight but they all were afraid & terrorized. They all hoped that the giant would go away.
Then a young and unassuming shepherd boy walked into their “prison of fear”. He really knew & loved God. He had been studying hard in the “Sheep Pasture Theological Seminary”!
1 Samuel 17:26:
“Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying: ‘What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?”
And 1 Samuel 17:32
“And David said to Saul: “Let no man’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.’ “
And you know the rest of the story: “Bull’s Eye!”
David’s stone LEFT A REAL IMPRESSION on Goliath!
Now, go bail yourself out of your prison of fear!
MONDAY THRU SATURDAY WORSHIP
Being able to work is a blessing from God. Having a meaningful labor to do is also a blessing from Him. Your Lord cares about your work!And you should care about your Lord as you work!
The first man Adam had meaningful work to do before he was given Eve and before they fell into sin.
Genesis 2:15:
“Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.”
Scripture later informs us that we are to work on our every day jobs in a way that strives to please God. The (Colossians 3:23).
Your job performance is worship just as much as your participation in the corporate worship gathering on Sundays is worship.
There’s no such thing as secular employment.
Hi-Ho, Hi -Ho, It’s off to work I go … to adore & to magnify & to serve my God!